Disaster in Garage
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From: Oceanside CA
Disaster in Garage
Thought I'd start a new thread on this one... My 04 Coupe fell off the Jack Stands last nite (front only)... Totally my fault... You can read the details here: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1573012940-post35.html
I think all the damage is limited to the Fans/Fan Shroud... all lines seem intact, no fluid dripping, wire dangling, etc.. Car starts OK (only ran 15 seconds to see)...
I can see that the shroud is shattered below each fan.. The driver's side fan is also loose and wiggles around inside the shroud (can be pushed forward by hand to touch radiator)...
I was wondering if it would be OK to drive it a few miles or is it a MUST Tow situation? (I can't do this level of work myself)...
Am I a dumb-a#s for even thinking this? Is the below photo the fan relay wiring that would ensure the fan would NOT operate while driving?
Am I just going thru the various stages of grief??
Thanks--please be kind!
I think all the damage is limited to the Fans/Fan Shroud... all lines seem intact, no fluid dripping, wire dangling, etc.. Car starts OK (only ran 15 seconds to see)...
I can see that the shroud is shattered below each fan.. The driver's side fan is also loose and wiggles around inside the shroud (can be pushed forward by hand to touch radiator)...
I was wondering if it would be OK to drive it a few miles or is it a MUST Tow situation? (I can't do this level of work myself)...
Am I a dumb-a#s for even thinking this? Is the below photo the fan relay wiring that would ensure the fan would NOT operate while driving?
Am I just going thru the various stages of grief??
Thanks--please be kind!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Are you sure you can't fix this yourself? Removing the fan shroud isn't easy from a physical standpoint but from a technical standpoint it is a piece of cake. You just have to be careful and not get frustrated when it gets caught on something and refuses to budge. There are a couple of wiring harnesses and the radiator hose on the passenger side that like to catch on the shroud as is it comes off the radiator.
Bill
Bill
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From: Oceanside CA
No--the only thing that failed is my brain...
Keep in mind--I may older in years, but am a true mechanical novice around cars..
I really don't know for sure what occurred, but I think the following:
1) My wood blocks were not screwed together--was gonna do that after a "test lift"...
2) I had the jack cradles facing side-to-side, not front-to-rear...
All I know is when I began lifting the rear, BOOM!!
Keep in mind--I may older in years, but am a true mechanical novice around cars..
I really don't know for sure what occurred, but I think the following:
1) My wood blocks were not screwed together--was gonna do that after a "test lift"...
2) I had the jack cradles facing side-to-side, not front-to-rear...
All I know is when I began lifting the rear, BOOM!!
Last edited by Sargechris; Feb 7, 2010 at 02:07 PM. Reason: more info
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
You're on the right track. double check that the fans can't fall out or get worse. If so, then unplug the fans so they don't run then you can drive it. Just go easy and watch the temps. The easiest way to disable the fans is to take the cover off of the fuse block beside the battery and pulling the 3 relays labeled as fan relays.
I read your other post. I use 6 ton jack stands and put them so that the edge of the cross member is in the V of the stand. i try to pick a place near the outsides where there is some extra webbing for strength. It would be extremely difficult to knock my car off the stands once it's sitting like that.
FYI, if you are using the cheap 2 ton stands you won't believe how much more stable the 6 or 12 ton stands are.
Peter
I read your other post. I use 6 ton jack stands and put them so that the edge of the cross member is in the V of the stand. i try to pick a place near the outsides where there is some extra webbing for strength. It would be extremely difficult to knock my car off the stands once it's sitting like that.
FYI, if you are using the cheap 2 ton stands you won't believe how much more stable the 6 or 12 ton stands are.
Peter
Last edited by lionelhutz; Feb 7, 2010 at 02:18 PM.
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From: Oceanside CA
Thanks Peter! Will advise later how it goes...
I thought the Jack Stands (mine are 3 ton) should be placed on the cross member... But almost all I read here said to place them under the wood supports...
Truly a learning experience..
I thought the Jack Stands (mine are 3 ton) should be placed on the cross member... But almost all I read here said to place them under the wood supports...
Truly a learning experience..
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From: Oceanside CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Hereford AZ
I have read most if this and I am confused. What "wood" are you refering to? I have had my car jack up and on jack stands hundreds of times...I think you have been over thinking this. I usually jack the car from the side with a small oak wood blocks or from the rear with an oak 1/2" x 4" x 6" (or so) on the rear cross member and then put the jack stands under each of the four points using those small oak wood blocks. Never any problems...am I missing something critical here which caused you make a mistake and have this happen?
Glad folks are helping you but this should be something elementary not something you have to really think about...
Glad folks are helping you but this should be something elementary not something you have to really think about...
Thread Starter
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From: Oceanside CA
I have read most if this and I am confused. What "wood" are you refering to? I have had my car jack up and on jack stands hundreds of times...I think you have been over thinking this. I usually jack the car from the side with a small oak wood blocks or from the rear with an oak 1/2" x 4" x 6" (or so) on the rear cross member and then put the jack stands under each of the four points using those small oak wood blocks. Never any problems...am I missing something critical here which caused you make a mistake and have this happen?
Glad folks are helping you but this should be something elementary not something you have to really think about...
Glad folks are helping you but this should be something elementary not something you have to really think about...
http://home.earthlink.net/~theadmira...tible/id2.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Hereford AZ
I got the info from various threads... here are photos of what I tried to copy... I TOTALLY agree--should be a no-brainer...
http://home.earthlink.net/~theadmira...tible/id2.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~theadmira...tible/id2.html
You obviously had the wheels off when it fell...I would look at the rotors and the metal frame holding the fan. You probably know it bolts to the frame. It is not expensive or hard to replace.
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From: Oceanside CA
I see it bro and didn't mean to be flippant. Will tell you that in the future you can just use small 1/2" x 2" x 3" (ish) pieces of oak at each jacking point. I do, sometimes, use 2 floor jacks (one on each side) to start the thing going up evenly.
You obviously had the wheels off when it fell...I would look at the rotors and the metal frame holding the fan. You probably know it bolts to the frame. It is not expensive or hard to replace.
You obviously had the wheels off when it fell...I would look at the rotors and the metal frame holding the fan. You probably know it bolts to the frame. It is not expensive or hard to replace.
The wheels, thank goodness, were still on... So the damage was from the jackstands hitting the fan shround and surrounding parts... But, so far, all I can tell is the fan assembly needs replacement..
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Assachusetts
Live and learn. I don't think the "V" direction of the jackstands matter. I always have mine going from side-to-side, myself. If you had pieces of wood stacked I would say that would be the likely culprit, they probably just slid off. Especially since you say that the jack stands are what pierced the fan shroud, doesn't sound like they tipped over or anything.
Did you have the wheels on or off the car? I always leave them on until I am finished with the whole jacking process and I am sure the car is stable (I always push on it in various directions as hard as I can to see if it falls off).
Dope
Did you have the wheels on or off the car? I always leave them on until I am finished with the whole jacking process and I am sure the car is stable (I always push on it in various directions as hard as I can to see if it falls off).
Dope
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From: Oceanside CA
I thought SHE was gonna kill me after seeing that I was OK!!
I do, indeed, consider myself fortunate...
Thread Starter
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From: Oceanside CA
Live and learn. I don't think the "V" direction of the jackstands matter. I always have mine going from side-to-side, myself. If you had pieces of wood stacked I would say that would be the likely culprit, they probably just slid off. Especially since you say that the jack stands are what pierced the fan shroud, doesn't sound like they tipped over or anything.
Did you have the wheels on or off the car? I always leave them on until I am finished with the whole jacking process and I am sure the car is stable (I always push on it in various directions as hard as I can to see if it falls off).
Dope
Did you have the wheels on or off the car? I always leave them on until I am finished with the whole jacking process and I am sure the car is stable (I always push on it in various directions as hard as I can to see if it falls off).
Dope
Wheels were on--was a test of the jack only.... whew!
jack stands didn't fail in my opinon--but one was knocked sideways during the fall (I believe)...